Practice putting cup



b 12, 1967 H. GANGER 3,341,206

PRACTICE PUTTING CUP Filed Feb; 9, 1965 INVENTOR.

HARRY GANGER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,341,206 PRACTICE PUTTING CUP Harry Ganger, 168 S. Maryland Ave., Atlantic City, NJ. 08401 Filed Feb. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 431,416 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-177) This invention relates generally to golf games, and is especially concerned with a unique accessory for golf putting games.

As is well known to those versed in the art, golf putting requires considerable practice, and toward this end numerous games have been proposed including golf-ball receptacles of various types. As it is impossible to provide a recessed receptacle or hole in many conventionally used practice-putting areas, such as lawns, living-room carpets, and the like, there have been proposed a variety of golf putting holes wherein the receptacle is not recessed, but its bounding sides are gradually elevated to define a receptacle therein. However, this does not accurately simulate true putting conditions, as most golf holes are not bounded by inclined sides. While other attempts have been made to solve this problem, such attempts have been unsuccessful for several reasons, including that of not retaining the ball, limiting access to the ball, and others.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a golf-ball receptacle for use on flush or flat playing surfaces which accuratelysimulates true putting conditions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf-ball receptacle of the type described wherein a sunk ball is effectively retained by the receptacle, and wherein a fully adequate area of access is afforded to an entering ball.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf-ball receptacle having the advantageous character istics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which is extremely simple in construction, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, which requires no permanent installation but may be instantly set up for use on any otherwise suitable putting surface, and which can be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The inventon accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a golf-ball receptacle of the present invention in an operative condition of use;

FIGURE 2 is a front perspective view showing the receptacle of FIGURE 1 somewhat enlarged and in greater detail;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the receptacle of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURE 1 thereof, a generally flat playing surface is designated 10, and may be that of an indoor carpet, outdoor lawn, or other desired playing surface. A golf-ball receptacle is generally designated 11 and illustrated in position on the playing surface 10, while a player is designated 12 and shown in putting position wit-h a golf club 13 addressing a golf ball 14.

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The receptacle 11 is best seen in FIGURES 2-4, and may be integrally molded or otherwise fabricated of any suitable material, plastic being found advantageous. The receptacle 11 includes a generally fiat bottom wall or base 12, which may be of circular-outline configuration, say the size of a conventional golf hole. The base 12 is bounded by a circular bounding edge 15 and may advantageously be fabricated of opaque material, preferably white to simulate a golf hole. Along the forward half of the bounding edge 15, the upper surface of the base 12 maybe chambered or beveled, as at 16, so that the forward region of edge 15 is relatively sharp and substantially continuous with a substantially fiat playing surface upon which the base is adapted to rest.

Upstanding from the base 12 along the rearward region of bounding edge 15 is a side wall or support 17. The side wall 17 may be of generally semicircular configuration when viewed in plan, see FIGURE 3, extending peripherally along the rearward half of bounding edge 15 and terminating in upstanding end edges 18 located in approximately diametrically opposed relation.

Extending across the top of arcuate side wall 17 and secured to the upper edge thereof in spaced relation over the base 12 is a top wall 20. The top wall 20 may be generally flat and of approximately semicircular-outline configuration having its bounding edge extending along and secured to the upper edge of side wall 17. Further, the top wall 20 may be arranged to incline forwardly, as best seen in FIGURE 4 with its forward region extending forwardly beyond the forward end edges 18 of side wall 17 and terminating short of the frontmost edge region of base 12. Provided along the forward edge region of top wall 20, extending generally chordally thereof, is an extension or lip 21 projecting obliquely forwardly and upwardly at an angle with respect to the top wall. The chordally disposed, forwardly and upwardly projecting lip 21 extends generally laterally or normal to a forwardand-rearward centerline of the base 12 and top wall 20, as best seen in FIGURE 3.

It will also be observed that the spacing between the top wall 20 and base 12 is such as to permit free entry of a golf ball 14 rearwardly therebetween while limiting rearward movement of the golf ball to a condition of frictional wedging between the base and top wall. This condition is shown in FIGURE 4.

It will now be appreciated that the side wall or support 17 serves to support the top wall 20. Further, both side and top walls 17 and 20 may advantageously be fabricated of light-permeable or transparent material for minimum visibility, which serves to expose the opaque hole-simulating base 12.

In use, an accurately putted ball rolls from the playing surface 10 onto base 12 where it is frictionally retained in the wedged condition of FIGURE 4 until deliberately removed therefrom. Should the putt be'inaccurate and come to rest behind the receptacle 11, the receptacle may very conveniently be rotated to face the ball, whereupon an accurate putt will cause the receptacle to receive and hold the ball. As at least degrees of the periphery of base 12 is accessible for entry of the ball 14, it will be appreciated that the instant receptacle corresponds in operation to that of a true putting hole.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a golf-ball receptacle which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is Well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A golf-ball receptacle for use on a flat playing surface, said receptacle comprising a generally flat circular base, an upstanding side wall of generally semicircular configuration extending along the rear and side peripheral margins of said base, and a generally fiat top wall fixed to the upper edge of said side Wall in forwardly and upwardly inclined spaced relation over said base, said base and top wall being spaced to permit free entry of a putted golf ball therebetween while limiting rearward movement of said golf ball therebetween to a condition of frictional wedging.

2. A golf-ball receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the forward region of said base has its upper surface beveled, said top wall extends forwardly beyond said side wall and terminates in a chordal front edge, and a lip extends upwardly and forwardly from said front edge of and oblique to said top wall.

3. A golf-ball receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said base is opaque, and said side and top Walls are light- 5 permeable.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,544,380 6/1925 Edmonston 273178 10 2,798,723 7/1957 Cusano 273127 2,899,207 8/1959 Billinghurst 273-177 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

15 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Examiner.

G. J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A GOLF-BALL RECEPTACLE FOR USE ON A FLAT PLAYING SURFACE, SAID RECEPTACLE COMPRISING A GENERALLY FLAT CIRCULAR BASE, AN UPSTANDING SIDE WALL OF GENERALLY SEMICIRCULAR CONFIGURATION EXTENDING ALONG THE REAR AND SIDE PERIPHERAL MARGINS OF SAID BASE, AND A GENERALLY FLAT TOP WALL FIXED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID WALL IN FORWARDLY AND UPWARDLY INCLINED SPACED RELATION OVER SAID BASE, SAID BASE AND TOP WALL BEING SPACED TO PERMIT FREE ENTRY OF A PUTTED GOLF BALL THEREBETWEEN WHILE LIMITING REARWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID GOLF BALL THEREBETWEEN TO A CONDITION OF FRICTIONAL WEDGING. 